Inside Our Elegant Coastal Wedding Weekend in South Georgia

There are certain moments in life you wish you could bottle up forever, the kind that feel sacred while you’re living them. Our wedding weekend was exactly that.

Everyone tells you, “your wedding day flies by!” As a wedding photographer, I had heard that phrase hundreds of times before ever becoming a bride myself. I believed it, but nothing could have prepared me for just how quickly the day would pass by once it was finally our turn. Experiencing just how quickly it goes yourself is something entirely different.

If I could relive one weekend over and over again for the rest of my life, it would be this one!

A quick note before we get started: apparently I had a lot more to say about our wedding weekend than I originally thought. As I started writing, I quickly realized there was no way I could fit everything into one blog post. From all of the DIY projects, my outfits throughout our engagement season (yes, an outfit blog is coming for those of you who have asked!!!) to all the little details that made the weekend so special, there are plenty more stories to tell. So if you’re a detail lover, don’t worry… there are more wedding blogs coming soon!

A quiet moment before “I do”

The most emotional moment of our wedding weekend happened the evening before the wedding.

Isaiah and I chose not to do a first look on the wedding day (yes, you read that correctly, keep reading for more on that hot take), but we still wanted to exchange personal vows privately before the ceremony. So about an hour before rehearsal, we met at our venue with just our photographer, exchanged gifts and read the words we had written for one another (cue the tears!!!).

It was quiet, emotional, grounding, and somehow felt even more intimate than I could have imagined.

That was the moment everything became real to me. As much as I loved the details and excitement surrounding the weekend, standing there together reminded us of the why we were here. To make a covenant before the Lord and step into forever together!

The morning of

We spent the morning getting ready at the cutest little Airbnb just around the corner from Fox Hill, and honestly, it couldn’t have been more perfect for the weekend. All of the girls stayed there the night before, so it turned into one giant slumber party filled with snacks, laughter, matching pajamas, and not nearly enough sleep!

That entire morning felt so relaxed and joyful. Paige and Sarah absolutely spoiled us with makeup and hair, and they (as always) did a fantastic job! The morning was filled with all the little moments that make a wedding day so special. While I was getting my hair done, my mom and Isaiah’s mom did the cutest little reveal once they were dressed and ready for the day. Meanwhile, everyone else buzzed around getting ready, and my girls spent the morning carrying our camcorder everywhere, making sure every memory was documented.

Oh, and I was completely obsessed with my pajamas and robe situation (don’t worry, I’ll be linking everything in a future outfit blog!).

Some of my favorite memories from the day happened in those slower moments before everything officially began, sitting around with all of my favorite girls, soaking in the excitement, and realizing the day was finally here!!!

Getting Dressed

Getting dressed was one of those parts of the day that somehow felt both emotional and calm all at once. Once my dress finally went on, I think it hit me that the day we had spent months planning and dreaming about was finally here.

My mom helped me into my gown, which was one of the sweetest moments that we got to share! Seeing everyone’s reactions once the dress, bow, veil, and everything finally came together is a moment I don’t think I’ll ever forget.

The dress. Still not over it.

First Looks & Happy Tears

One of the sweetest parts of the day was getting to do first looks with my dad, my cousins (who have always been much more like brothers to me), a candid first look with Isaiah’s mom and sister, and my bridesmaids. Seeing all of their reactions was such a fun moment. There’s just something so emotional about seeing the people who have known and loved you your entire life react to such a huge moment.

I had kept my dress completely secret from mostly everyone, including my bridesmaids, so revealing it to them for the first time ended up being far more exciting than I expected. Watching their reactions, hearing the screaming, and seeing everyone tear up made the moment feel even more special!

Now listen… as a photographer, I was dead set on first look, knock those portraits out before the ceremony, done! However, Isaiah’s one request was that we didn’t do a first look. We compromised and did a first touch to just say hey and pray before the ceremony, and I’m honestly so glad we did!

Although I love a first look as a vendor, I must say, not seeing each other until I walked down the aisle was very special! And judging by Isaiah crying the second he saw me… I’d say it was worth the wait! Don’t ever let your vendors sway you either way! You can absolutely not do a first look and still have a great timeline!

I still haven’t recovered from how much I love that dress.

Our people!

I went back and forth on bridesmaid dresses for months before finally landing on mismatched green dresses. I wanted each of the girls to be able to pick a dress that they would be excited to wear, and something they would actually wear again! Seeing all of the colors together that morning ended up being everything I had envisioned, I was soooo excited about how it turned out!

Beneath the pines at Fox Hill

Fox Hill Plantation in Hahira, Georgia could not have been a more perfect setting for our wedding weekend. Surrounded by rolling pine trees and sprawling oaks, it felt timeless from the moment we arrived.

Our ceremony took place in the open-air pavilion overlooking the property, with a cross standing at the front of the aisle, a visual reminder of the covenant we were entering into together.

My cousins served as our “flower girls” a.k.a. the “flower dads”! The carried in their little girls who were the main flower girls but the boys had to have a part in the wedding too! Since they’ve always felt more like brothers than cousins, it only felt right to include them in such a memorable way. It was one of those moments that had everyone smiling and perfectly reflected the fun, close-knit relationships that mean so much to us.

Isaiah’s dad was our officiant and thanks to a great online course, he was certified and everything! It was so meaningful having him be the one to marry us! Standing there together while someone so important to us walked us through the ceremony, made the moment feel even more sacred.

Mr. & Mrs. Isaiah Wesly Strong!

INTRODUCING MR. & MRS. ISAIAH WESLY STRONG!!!!!!! After months of planning, dreaming, and praying, we were finally husband and wife. For the first time all day, everything slowed down. We were able to soak it all in together, laugh, and simply enjoy being married.

Reception Details & Coastal Touches

Throughout the entire planning process, Isaiah and I kept returning to one question: how do we make this wedding feel unique and reflect us as a couple?

We wanted every guest to feel welcomed from the moment they arrived, not simply attending a wedding, but stepping into a celebration that reflected our story, our families, and the life we’re building together.

Because so much of our relationship revolves around being outdoors, spending time on the water, and adventuring together, subtle coastal touches naturally found their way throughout the weekend.

One (and possibly my favorite) touch that guests loved was our seating chart that read, “Our Favorite People, From Coast to Coast,” where each guest’s name and table assignment was attached to a boat keychain they were able to take home afterward. Instead of a wedding crest, I create a logo of our last name, Strong, where the “t” was a palm tree! It was a big hit, and we put it on the cigars, cups, boat key chains, and more! Displayed between the two seating chart boards was a hand-painted boat bookshelf filled with photos from our favorite places, seashells I collected as a child, and watercolor paintings I created of our dog, Isla, all details that subtle coastal nod we were after!

One detail most people don’t know about? I hand letter-pressed every single invitation suite myself. Yes… every single one, you read that correctly! Over 900 pieces of cardstock later, I can confidently say it was both one of the most rewarding and time-consuming projects I’ve ever taken on. From designing the suite to hand-mixing the ink colors and carefully rolling each piece through the press one at a time, the entire process became such a meaningful part of our engagement season. Would I do it again? Honestly… probably not! But I’m so grateful I did because creating something so personal by hand made the experience feel even more special.

Definitely one of Isaiah’s favorite details was our Cigar Bar, where each cigar was hand rolled during the reception. We had this idea years ago when we were dating to have a cigar bar and Isaiah was so excited about it. Kristian Cortez of Cortez Cigars flew in from Maryland for the wedding, and I think there were more people over there than on the dance floor! Keep scrolling to see photos!

Looking back now, those little details people often say “no one notices” became some of my favorite memories from the entire process. Because the truth is, the details do matter. Not because they impress people, but because they become part of the story you’ll treasure forever.

A reception full of joy!

The reception that followed was everything we hoped it would be: joyful, energetic, and full of life from beginning to end.

The dance floor stayed packed all night long (shoutout to DJ Breezy at Superior Sound Entertainment). Between line dancing with my mom and my girls, watching people gather around the cigar bar, and best of all, every person we love celebrate together under one roof, the entire evening felt like pure joy.

The reception design itself completely took my breath away. I know I’ve said it once, but I’ll say it again. My vendor team was STACKED! Jenny, Bryanna, and everyone involved took my vision and RAN with it! They went above and beyond to make sure that it was more than I could’ve ever imagined.

The perfect ending

At the end of the night, we ran through a tunnel of cold sparks and sparklers towards my grandfather’s 1976 Chevy Cheyenne Step-side (which I honestly think he may have been even more excited about than we were).

Followed by a farewell brunch on Sunday hosted by Isaiah’s family and off to our honeymoon we went! OH! And then came one final surprise: Isaiah planned our entire honeymoon without telling me where we were going until we arrived at the gate. Antigua ended up being the most incredible way to begin this new chapter together, and even now, we still talk about that trip almost weekly.

Looking back now, it’s not the timeline, the flowers or photos (well, maybe a little), or even the countless details I remember most. It’s the feeling. The joy of becoming husband and wife. The overwhelming love we felt from our family and friends with everyone we love from all different stages of life, in one room. The quiet moments, the happy tears, the packed dance floor, and all the memories made in between.

Everyone tells you your wedding day flies by, and they’re right. But somehow the moments that matter most have a way of staying with you forever. If I could relive one weekend over and over again for the rest of my life, it would be this one.

One of the greatest gifts throughout this entire season was the incredible team of vendors who brought our vision to life and made our wedding day possible! As someone who works in the wedding industry, I knew how important it would be to surround ourselves with people we trusted, and they exceeded every expectation. From the beautiful florals and thoughtful planning to the music, hair and makeup, and every detail in between, each person played a part in making the weekend feel effortless, joyful, and completely us.

We truly could not have done it without each person below and our wonderful families!